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True conservative Republicans should put the brakes on the Stimulus plan

By: drohan00 (Diary)  |  January 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

This whole fast moving freight train of an economic stimulus plan should be resisted for many reasons.  Certainly many of which have been elucidated by the members of this very informative blog. 

However, we should not merely cave to the Democrats for another important reason.  As the opposition, with a reduced minority, we should see to it that the committees of jurisdiction get a chance to score the package, and we should draw attention to its earmarks et. al..  While I can see a political advantage for the Arlen Specter’s and Olympia Snowe’s of the world to play ball with Obama on many issues, no Republican gains by fast-tracking this legislation. 

The Democrats, with the help of the partisan media, are trying to have their cake and eat it too.  The president in his address on Tuesday stated that this would be a long process.  Republicans should repeat his words to the Democrats in the Senate.  They say this will take a long time, what we need is to make it take a little longer.  Without seeming obstructionist, we can demand an open ended process that will allow minority amendments and oversight.  We will again regain the monniker of the party of responsible government.  While supporting the aim of recovery, our senators can argue that when the President and congress wish to triple the deficit, we should take our time to see the money is actually needed.

Republicans who are worried about looking obstrucitonist only need to stiffen their spine, look in the camera, and repeat that they are lookig out for the intrest of the taxpayer.  If we stand with John Q. Taxpayer as a watchdog, we will then be in good shape.  I think a stimulus package will pass.  I do not think we need to have it pass just the way the Democrats want it to.  I think there will be Democrats falling off the reservation to uphold filibusters and supporting minority offered amendments.  Reid and company need to know that we will not let them logroll us. 

Further, this majority is of such a size that if it takes too long, as per wont of the Senate, Reid will only look more and more feckless as the days move on.  He will then be in more trouble in Nevada in 2010.  I hope a GOP Senator reads this, but I guess that would mean they would care what the base thinks!

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  • izoneguy

    the Republicans should not call it a “Stimulus”. If you read what is in it – more pork barrel projects that Obama himself said must stop during his run. So let’s keep Obama to his word. The Republicans should get up and read the entire plan. Americans will see the only thing that gets stimulated is the Federal Government.

    • Praying

      I’ve gone to ReadTheStimulus.org, and have to admit I have NOT read the entire thing (how many hours are in the day, anyway!). But from the snippets I HAVE read, this is OBSCENE! Pork, Pork, and more Pork. VERY little that will stimulate anything, except as noted above, the federal government. Agh. What happened to the Republican version??

    • Mike gamecock DeVine
      • izoneguy

        and it is time to call into account those that were elected. Just because you were elected does not mean you get your way. The Republicans should take each word, sentence and paragraph and explain in detail what the consquences are when you try to stimulate your way out of a recession. I mean they want $6 Billion so they can get Americans ready for Nationalized Health Care!! Whoa – I don’t want Nationalized Health Care and I certainly do not want to waste money on projects that will “get me ready” for projects I don’t want.
        People don’t get it. If the Feds nationalize health care – then they will tell you to lose weight, stop smoking, etc. You will play be their rules and you will not have a say. There is no free lunch.

        • Mike gamecock DeVine

          I think this can resonate with many Obama voters as they see all this money for states and expanding government that will not create jobs.

          I am hoping for an alternative bill in the senate to be offered that would combine a payroll tax cut with supply side corp, cap gains and across the board income tax cuts that Americans can understand would put money in peoples pockets IMMEDIATELY to buy goods and services and incentives to do so by consumers and business and the incentive to start new businesses.

    • Achance

      GWB and the Congressional Republicans weren’t nearly as good at it as they shold have been but a lot of spending that the Democrats and their friends were accustomed to getting went to GWB and the Republican’s friends instead. The Democrats really need money fast to refill the coffers of all the non-profits, unions, training firms, their whole shadow goverment organization that was on a starvation diet comparatively during the horrible Republican years.